Shipping-case.



A. J. GOUGHENOUR.

SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1914.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ALLEN JfeucumvouR Adm-SAW HE NORRIS PETERS CCL. PHOTO-Tun wAsulm-i-cw. u r- A. J. GOUGHENOUR.

SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1914.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awn/whoa FALLEN d. COUGHENOUR.

"HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. c

A. J. GOUGHENOUR.

SHIPPING CASE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 13, 1914.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

HLLENJ -CousnENouR THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, DC.

v STATES Y E ALLEN J. COUGHENOUR, or roar LEAVENWQRTH,"KANSAS;

. SHIPPING-CASE.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that LALLEN J. CoUeHnNoUR,

citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Shipping-Cases, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had tothe accompanying drawings e r This invention relates to carriers or receptacles for eggs and similar fragile com modities, the invention having for its principal object to provide a device of this character which is so constructed that all liability of breakage of the eggs or other in shipment will be obviated.

The invention has for another of its objects to produce an article carrier of the above character which will yieldingly support a large number of articles' within a comparatively restricted space and admit of the rough handling to which such carriers are usually subjected without displacing the articles from their respective positions so that the same will engage or contact with each. other. T

The invention further has for a general object to materially improve the construction of such'carriers or receptacles without greatly complicating the same or enhancing the cost of manufacture thereof. 7

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrange: ments of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an article carrier constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the case or carrier sections being partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the carrier sections folded or arranged in superposed relation upon each other; Fig. 4: is a plan view of one of the carrier sections showing a slightly nodified.

' form of the invention; Fig. 5'is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the manner of cutting the felt sheet with which the eggs or other articles directly contact;

articles 7 Fig. is detail fragmentary plan view of one corner" of a carrier section showing a slightly modified form .of the suspension means for the egg receiving frame; Fig.8

modified construction'of the yieldablesup porting or suspending means for the arti- Specifieation of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 15, 1914 .I in

Application filed January 13, 1314.. s ar No. 811,879..

cle receivingframeyFig. 11 is an enlarged detail plan view of one corner of the crate section. Fig. '12 is a detail-vertical section showing another modificationof the yieldable support for the article receiving frame. Fig. 13 "is a detail fragmentary vertical section showing a still furthermodification of y the suspension device. Fig. section of the case.

Referring in detail moreparticularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, 5 designates two similarly constructed case sections. Each of these case sections includes a rectangular boundary wall 6 and 14 is t ,p p 4 i i i j to the drawings, and

a covermember 7 which is adapted to be arranged upon one end of said boundarywall and secured thereto. This cover consists of a base board 8 upon the edges of which the marginal strips 9 are secured, said base board entirely closlng one side of the case section. However, before the cover member 7 is secured in position upon the body wall 6 of the case section, a frame structure for thesupport of the eggs or other artielesis secured to the boundary walls. To this end, I provide in the opposite edges of the ends and sides of the wall "6 suitably spaced notches shown at 10. 11 indicates a Wire of the requisite gage which is wound or wrapped'upon the wall 6, said wire seating or being fitted into the notcheslO; It will corresponding wire strands on the otheredge In other words, the latter wire strands are disposed inwardly of the strands first referred to. After the wire has of said wall.

been wrappedin one direction, around the opposed walls of the case sect1on, a wire is wrapped in a similar manner upon the other parallelwalls, so that they intersect the first wire 'strands. These intersecting strands of wire define a plurality of pocketsor compartments between the boundary walls 6 of the case. A thin resilient metal sheet 12 is then disposed within or between the boundary walls of the case body, and this metal sheet which is preferably of aluminum is slitted or cut as shown at 13 to provide a plurality of series of resilient tongues 14: which are punched or forced out of the plane of said metal sheet, so that they will extend downwardly into the several pockets or compartments formed by the intersecting wires 11, and engage upon the intersecting upper and lower wires as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This metal sheet 12 has adhesively or otherwise secured thereto at spaced points,or between the series of spring tongues '14, the intersecting strips of felt 15. There is enough slack or looseness in these felt strips where they cross the pockets or compartments to permit the same to sag downwardly into said compartments and rest against the inclinedspring tongues 14 as is also clearly shown in Fig. 2. At the intersecting points of these strips, a disk of rubber, cork or other suitable ma- .terialindicated at 16 is secured, and upon this diskthe smaller end of the egg indicated at E directly engages 0r rests.

The case sections 5 are hingedly connected together at one of their ends as shown at 1'7, and the construction of the egg supporting frames carried by each section is identical with that above described. It will be understood that after the carrier frames have been secured upon or to the boundary walls 6, the cover member 7 is secured in place. Angular metal bracing plates 18 are preferably applied to the corners of the case and secured to the walls 6 and cover memher 7 to rigidly connect and brace the same. The corner plates 18 on the case sections are preferably formed at one of their ends as shown in Fig. 14 to form a half joint when the case is closed. After the eggs have been arranged in either section of the case, as shown in Fig. 2, the other case section is folded over upon. that section containing the eggs. The upper larger ends of the eggs will thus be received between the wider strands of wire constituting a part of the carrier frame in the latter case section. It will be obvious that by the provision of the resilient frame wires together with the spring tongues 1%, and the pliable or elastic intersecting felt strips 15, an extremely yieldable cushion or support is provided for the eggs so that after the case sections have been locked or otherwise securely fastened together, any rough handling of the case will notv dislod e the e s from their sev eral positions so that they will engage with each other and be broken, nor can the eggs move to a sufficient extent to engage the base boards 8 of the cover sections 7 of the case sections with sufiicient force to break the eggs. It will thus be seen that I have devised a practical, highly serviceable and convenient carrier for the shipment of eggs and like frangible commodities.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have disclosed a slightly modified form of the invention which is somewhat simpler than that above described. In this construction, it will be observed that each case section 5 is provided adjacent its open'side with a single series of intersecting wire strands 11, forming a rectangular carrier frame. In this construction, the wire frame is not secured directly to the walls of the case but the corners of said frameare connected to the corners of the case interiorly thereof by means of the elastic bands 19. Over the intersecting wires of the frame, the plate 12 of aluminum or other sheet metal is adapted to be arranged, said plate being provided with series of resilient tongues 1 1 in a similar manner to the preferred form of the invention, said tongues extending downwardly through the spaces or compartments defined by the intersecting wires 11-. The intersecting felt bands 15 are also employed in this form of the invention with which the eggs or other articles immediately contact. As shown in Fig. 5, at the right and left hand sides thereof, when the case is empty, the apexes of the spring tongues 1 are contiguously disposed so that they define substantially a conical cup or pocket. I'Vhen however, an egg is placed in one of these pockets, the weight thereof forces the opposing spring tongues 1-1 in opposite directions and stretches the intersecting flexible bands 15 extending across said pockets. These bands support the egg out of direct contact with the metal tongues and obviate all possibility of the eggs being broken during shipment. It will be observed from this description that the principal difference between this form of the device and that shown in Fig. 1, resides in the fact that the egg" receiving carrier frame is yieldably suspended in the case and is not permanently secured upon the case walls. In connection with this latter form of the invention, I also contemplate substituting for the intersecting strips of felt or other fabric 15, a continuous felt sheet which is disposed over the wire frame. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a fragment of this felt sheet, the same being designated by the numeral 20, and it will be observed that the sheet is cut or slitted over its entire area as at 21 to produce a plurality of diamond shaped tabs which are integrally connected to each other at their central and widest points as shown at 23. This fabric sheet is secured at its edges to the boundary wire of .the carrier frame and the diamond shaped tabs 22 are adapted to extend clownwardly upon each side of the intersecting tabs 29 of the sheet of felt. These intersecting felt strips are also provided attheir plate 25, one end of a coil spring 32 is attrally at opposite sides" of the case.

upper ends of these .plates are notched or recessed as clearly shown at 39, to detachwires and upon the opposite spring metal tongues 14, one half of the same tab 22 engaging upon the contiguous tongues of ad acent pockets or compartments.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, I have illus: trated a suspending,v spring 24 for the wire carrying frame which may be employed in lieu of the elastic strips 19. I

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 of, the" drawings, which disclose a further modifica tion of the essential characteristics of my invention, 25 designates an aluminum or sheet metal plate, which plate is formed with a series of triangular shaped outwardly punched spring tongues 26 arranged diametrically opposite to each other. It is to be particularlyobserved that in this modified construction, the tongues 26 are considerably smaller than the tongues 14 and 14c disclosed in the previously referred to forms of the device. Between the, tongues 26, the triangular sections of metal are cut out as 1ndicated at 27 and upon the upper surface of the sheet of aluminum 25, a sheet of felt or other resilient material'28 is secured. This sheet of felt is also cut to provide diametrically opposedtriangular shaped tabs 29' which are slightly larger than the spring points of intersection with the supporting disks of cork or other yieldable material in-, dicated at 31. To each corner of themetal tached, the other ends of the springs being secured to the respective corners of the case. From this construction, it will be apparent that in the provision of the felt sheet 28, which overlies the spring metal tongues 26, I have provided an additional cushioning medium for the eggs, so that breakage thereof will be rendered absolutely impossible, in

the handling of the shipping crate or case,

InFig. 10 of-the drawings, I have disclosed still another modified form of the invention wherein the egg supporting frame is yieldably suspended within the case body,

by the vertically disposed spring plates 87 which are fixed at their lower ends to the blocks 38 secured in the corners and. cen- The ably receive the headed ends of the rods 40 which are loosely connected at their-other ends to-the carrier frame. I It will be obvious thatby suspending the frame within/the case body in this manner," when the case issubjected to violent shocker jar, the frame together ,withthe fabric strips are free to move with resp'eotto the case walls, and in such movement, the spring plates 37 arebent or bowed inwardly from their normal positions, said plates effectually preventing the framefrom striking the sides of the case, so that no pressure whatever will devolve upon 1 the eggs. a

In Fig. 11 I have showna further modification of the means for suspending the, article receiv ng frame, wherein the aluminurnor other sheet. metal plate 57 is providjed at each of its corners with a cylindrical stud 58. Expansion springs 59 are ven-.

gaged at one of their ends over these studs, the other ends of said springsbeing suiti ably secured to the corners of the case or i carrier as shown.

Referring now to Fig. l2-wherein I have shown an additional suspension means for the plate 57, 62 "designates a U-shaped bracket-plate which is secured to the inner faces-of the side. and end walls of the case. Between the inwardly extending parallel arms of this U-shaped bracket plate a cushioning block of cork, rubber or other yieldable material shown at 63 is arranged."

These cushioning blocks areprovided with notches or recesses 64c to 1 receive the edges of the article supporting plate 57.

In Fig. 13-of the drawings, still another suspending means for the sheet metal orfl aluminum plate is illustrated, wherein it will be observed that the? opposed ends of vertically arranged pairs of expansion P gS 65 e fixed to theedge'of the plate, I

the other ends of the springs being secured to the wall of the case; :Inadditiontothese springs, a wood block or cleat 66 is movably mounted upon the under side of the plate by means of the screwG'Z; A strip of cork or other cushioning material 68 is securedto the lower edge of'said cleat for contact with I the base orbottom wall of thecase whileto the upper edge thereof a similar cork strip a 69 is adhesively or otherwise: secured. Between this latter strip ofcork and the under face ofthe article supporting plate a strip of rubber or other relativelysoft yieldable, material 70 is interposed. This arrange ment of these springs 65 and the blocks 01% cleats 66 with the cushioningmeans therefor is arranged centrally at each of theend and side edgesof the ar iclecarrving plate.

From the foregoingdescriptionitaken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, 1t 1S'f/l1QHgl1t that the. constructlon,

'manner-ofuse and several advantages of the different forms of my invention which 1 have deemed it advisable to illustrate, will be fully and clearly understood. It will y do not specifically refer to the same,'all

alternative forms which might be fairly construed as embracing the essential characteristicsof the device are contemplated in putting the invention into practical use. A shipping crate or case for frangible commodities constructed in accordance with my invention is highly eflicient and serviceable in practical use as it eliminates all liability of breakage which in the case of eggs frequently results in considerable monetary loss to the shipper. However, it is of course manifest that the invention may be utilized with the adoption of slight modifications for the transportation of various other articles of commerce with the same advantageous results. It is also apparent that the crates or cases may be constructed in various forms and sizes to suitthe particular circumstances of their use and that the frames for yieldably suspending the articles may be constructed of other material than wire. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is susceptible of various othermodifications than those above disclosed in the form, proportion and arrangement of the several elements and I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. a

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an article carrier of the character described, the combination with a case, of Y spaced series of horizontally extending in tersecting wires arranged within said case to form a plurality of article receiving pockets, a metal plate supported by one series of intersecting wires and having a plurality of series of spring tongues cut therefrom and extending 1nto the respective pockets,

said tongues engaging-at their free ends upon the other series of intersecting wires,

andintersecting fabric strips secured upon said plate and loosely extendmg at their points of intersection over the spring tongues and into the several pockets, said intersecting strips under the weight of an article engaged thereon being distended beyond the free ends of the tongues.

3. In a carrier of the character described, the combination with a case, of spaced series of intersecting wire strands arranged in said case to form a plurality of article receiving pockets, and a metal plate arranged upon one of said'series of wire strands and having a'series of spring tongues out therefrom and extending into each of said pockets, said tongues engaging at their free ends with the wire strands of the other series to yieldingly supper the articles in the pockets.

l. In a carrier of the class described, the combination with a case, of spaced series of intersecting wire strands threaded through the walls of the case, the parallel strands of one series'being arranged in closer relation to each other than the corresponding parallel strands of the other series to form a plurality of article receiving pockets, a metal plate arranged upon the latter series of wire strands and having spring tongues cut therefrom and extending into said pockets and engaging at their free ends upon the first named series of wire strands, and

flexible cushioning material arranged over each of said tongues upon which the article 1s adapted to rest.

5. In a carrier of the class described, the

combination with a case, of spaced series of intersecting wire strands threaded through the walls of the case, the parallel strands of one series being arranged in closer relation to each other than the corresponding parallel strands of the other series to form a plurality of article receiving pockets, a metal plate arranged upon the latter series of wire strands and having spring tongues cut therefrom and extending into said pockets and engaging. at their free ends upon the first named series of wire strands, and intersecting fabric strips secured at intervals to the upper surface of said plate, said strips at their points of intersection extending into the respective pockets and yiel'dable cushioning disks secured to the intersecting points of said fabric strips.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN J. COUGHENOUR. lVitnesses:

M. CARLISLE LYDDANE, D.'VV. GALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents,

3 Washington, D. G. 

